Romo gets what he needed: By a neck

ARLINGTON — The questions were coming quickly Sunday afternoon, how he had called out Tony Romo during practice, and the veteran Cowboy wanted to put this behind him.

“Where is Romo at?” Jason Hatcher, the defensive lineman, was saying. “Tell him to come over here. I'm gonna hug his neck. We ain't got no issues. Where'd you get all that from? I love Romo, Romo loves me.”

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Romo confirmed as much later, albeit without as much color. And while it's true Hatcher wanted to hug Romo's neck after routing the Rams, there's reason to believe he also wanted to wring it last week after losing to the other team from Missouri.

The Cowboys shouldn't mind. Romo has always needed some tough love, and he's always needed days such as Sunday.

Romo also shouldn't mind if this continues. The Dallas defense went after St. Louis' Sam Bradford the way other defenses go after him, and the Cowboys' running game showed up.

Given that, Romo was what he rarely is. A mere cog. He was also an accurate one, throwing only 24 times but completing 17 with three touchdowns and no interceptions.

“It's the way you want to play,” Jason Garrett said afterward, and it's the way Romo has rarely been able to. Usually, with teammates collapsing around him, he's been asked to do too much.

But there are also signs this isn't always about others asking, but about Romo telling. Since Bill Parcells left Dallas, Romo has had uncommon power for someone with little playoff success, and this past offseason took that further. Elevated by his new contract, Romo would have been justified to think he needed to take on more responsibility.

He clearly had it against Kansas City. Then, trailing by just a point with about two minutes left in the third quarter, the Cowboys ended the game by running 19 passing plays compared to zero running plays.

Among those who questioned Romo for calling too many audibles that took Dallas away from the run: Garrett.

Among those not in a position to question Romo: Hatcher. He's been a role player in Dallas for eight years, without the ideal size for either the previous 3-4 defense or the current 4-3.

But he's been a professional, and he's worked, and he's made some plays. He had a sack Sunday, too.

As Garrett said, “He's one of the most respected players in our locker room.”

So what Hatcher did last Wednesday mattered. Then, he asked Garrett if he could speak to the team.

“It was supposed to be private,” Hatcher told reporters Sunday. “I don't do stuff for attention. I'm just a number, I'm not a name, I'm not a star player ... I'm not trying to get in the media and be the face of the franchise ... I'm doing everything from my heart.”

Colleges

Speaking from the heart, he asked his teammates if they were something more than a 1-1 team heading toward another mediocre season. According to ESPN.com, Hatcher “implored (Jason) Witten to ride with him. Romo, too.”

The NFL Network took it further. It reported Hatcher had harsh words for Romo during practice last week after he threw an interception.

Garrett, Romo and others deny that. Or maybe the Cowboys are like most teams; they want to keep what is said in private from being too public.

Either way, it's not an issue that will hang with the Cowboys. They won Sunday, and as easily as they have since 2011. Romo found the kind of offensive balance he needs, and, besides, Hatcher was there afterward to talk some more.

“I love Romo to death,” he said, and, in a locker room, this is love that can help.